Case Launches Tool to Support Efficient Crop Production

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, Case IH, Tillage

Case iHToday’s farmers demand precise equipment that can handle a variety of field conditions and deliver consistent results.  That’s why Case IH has designed a new Nutri-Tiller 955 strip-till applicator to help growers better manage nutrients and conserve soil.

“The Nutri-Tiller 955 delivers the agronomic advantages of conventional tillage, along with the economic and conservation benefits of no-till,” said Dave Long, Case IH seeding equipment and fertilizer applicators marketing manager. “It’s a one-pass seedbed management tool that helps producers efficiently manage time, resources and inputs.”

“With a team of experienced agronomists and engineers, Case IH is regarded as the seedbed expert,” added Long. “The Nutri-Tiller 955 builds on that legacy not only by creating an ideal seedbed, but also by precisely placing nutrients deep in the root zone where growing crops need them — all in a single pass.”

The Nutri-Tiller 955 offers growers:

    • Improved mounting design of the new High-clearance Shank™ for Strip-Till (HCS ST) helps ensure the knife and shank stay aligned for uniform operating depth, precise nutrient placement and pass-to-pass accuracy.
    • New row cleaner effectively moves high levels of crop residue between the rows without gouging or riding on top of residue. Two down-pressure spring settings let producers match aggressiveness to field conditions.
    • The Berm Build’r™ creates a uniform, properly shaped and sized berm. Concave 18-inch notched sealing disks include holes on the disk face to help reduce soil buildup.
    • Rolling-basket options for the Berm Condition’r™ — a concave design for fall use and a flat-bar design for spring use — help put the final touches on the raised strip and finalize the seedbed.

“Minimal shank deflection with the 1¼-inch by 2-inch edge-bent shank, combined with the mount’s holding force, helps the HCS ST maintain a constant depth for uniform berms and accurate nutrient placement,” Long describes..

The new tools comes in 20 feet to 60 feet width with 8, 12, 16 or 24 rows.   With their exclusive welded bridge construction, the 30- and 40- foot versions flex in three places; the 60- foot model flexes in five.  Single-point depth control offers quick, in-field adjustments, easy folding and LED lighting for safety.  The also have a VF radial tire option to improve floatation and reduce compassion.

An optional air packages means the tiller is ready to connect to the Case IH Precision Air 5 series air cart.  The combinations means growers can deep band up to two dry fertilizers and anhydrous ammonia.

Visit your local Case IH dealer or caseih.com for more information.

Iowa Farmers Call for Cooperation in Biotech Trade Issues

Kelly MarshallAg Group, biotechnology, Corn

Global Agribusiness ForumThe International Maize Alliance (MAIZALL) sent representatives to Sao Paulo, Brazil last month for the 2016 Global Agribusiness Forum.  Pam Johnson, former president of the Nation Corn Growers Association (NCGA), and Julius Schaff, former chair of the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) represented Iowa Corn farmers as part of the coalition to address the challenges of innovation and food security.  Both brought their perspective to the biennial MAIZALL conference.

Johnson’s opening remarks highlighted the need for cooperation among farmers to ensure access to tools that provide safe, affordable and sustainably produced food.

“Addressing influential group global leaders at the forefront of global market access issues for biotech crops was powerful,” said Johnson. “MAIZALL works to give U.S. corn farmers that front row access in meeting the global food challenges of our day. With the global population expected to reach 9 billion people by 2050, farmers in North and South America must understand the need to increase agricultural productivity to meet the unprecedented demand for food and feed. Food security continues to be a priority with more than 800 million people still not having enough food to eat. We know that we are still not where we need to be on basic nutrition … even before we factor in growth. And all of us today must understand that increased trade remains essential to closing the gap.”

Schaaf acted as part of a panel to discuss sustainable food production.  His talk emphasized the need for science-based regulations.

“Meeting this increased global food demand must be accomplished sustainably using less land, energy and water and mitigate the impacts of climate change,” said Schaaf. “In order to accomplish such a task, farmers will need access to agricultural biotechnology. However, regulatory gridlock and lack of consumer understanding of agricultural technologies restrict farmers’ ability to capture the benefits of innovation.”

You can watch a video of Johnson’s remarks here.

Day One of #FarmProgressShow

Cindy ZimmermanFarm Progress Show

fps-16-groupThe ZimmComm team – with mascot Mini Z – are on the ground at the Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa ready to begin a full day of learning about the latest in agricultural equipment and technology.

Left to right here we have Energy.AgWired and AgNewsWire editor Joanna Schroeder, me and Chuck (and Mini Z), ZimmComm general manager Clint Underwood, and Precision AgWired editor Kelly Marshall.

So far the weather is good and we are keeping our fingers crossed that it will be better than the last time the show was in Iowa. If you are at the show, hope to see you – if not, stay tuned here and on AgWired.com for all the latest!

2016 Farm Progress Show Photos

Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by John DeereCoverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by GrowmarkCoverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Bayer CropScience

John Deere Hosts Ag Media at Ankeny Facility

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, Company Announcement, John Deere

deere-media-16The day before Farm Progress Show in Iowa, John Deere hosted agricultural media at their Des Moines Works facility in Ankeny, IA for a look at new products. The event kicked off with a plant tour by Rosalind Fox, Factory Manager.  She gave an overview to participants of what to expect, including a chance to view the craftsmanship up close and experience the history of the facility.

The factory is the site of all parts of the production process, including design, prototypes and testing. They are especially proud of their cotton product engineering group; a group that revolutionized the industry with their baler machine in 2009.  While the nearest cotton customer is a state and a half south of Ankey, the location is the site of the knowledge base and machine history.

“What makes our facility so interesting is that we produce a variety of products that cover all parts of the farming cycle for various crops from tilling the land to planting, spraying, providing nutrients to crops and harvesting them with our cotton harvester,” Fox told the media.

You can listen to her remarks here: [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/jd-media-16-welcome.mp3″ text=”Rosalind Fox, John Deere, Welcome”]

More photos and interviews are coming; keep your eye on AgWired and Precision to learn more.

John Deere 2016 Product Reveal Photo Album

ET Apache Sprayers Get An Upgrade

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, Equipment, Spraying

ApacheThe Apache sprayers saw some pretty great upgrades in 2016, but they’re not done yet.  The 2017 model offers growers enhanced durability, simpler operation and great precision application to take farming to the next level.

Apache spray booms will now come standard with leak-proof, quick-service Banjo boom manifold fittings, Hypro nozzle bodies and an option for stainless steel boom plumbing.  Both the  90 and 100 foot booms have also been overhauled for strength, increasing their ability to handle tough field conditions.  Apache is also offering a factory-installed 100 foot Pommier aluminum boom, in addition to the 120 and 132 Pommiers, giving growers a lighter weight alternative and greater configuration flexibility.

In-cab sprayer diagnostics are more user-friendly and intuitive. The in-cab display now features a smart diagnostics module that allows the operator to easily diagnose and troubleshoot all key machine systems, including engine and transmission controllers, joystick, display and more, reducing down-time and potential service costs for the operator.

For those looking for state-of-the-art precision performance, the optional new Raven Hawkeye™ Application Control System provides industry-leading precision application, including optional nozzle-bynozzle on/off control based on gps and field maps. A new turn compensation feature reduces over- and under-application of product through turns by maintaining precise application rates based on the amount of area covered by each part of the boom.

Concentrated chemicals can now be mixed with a direct injection system, reducing waste and time.  Operators will also appreciate the smoother ride provided by ZF transmission tuning refinements and the newly designed ladder means better accessibility.

“More and more farmers are starting to pencil out the financial benefits of doing their own application,” said Matt Hays, CEO of Equipment Technologies. “As they do, they’re comparing features, ease of use, warranty, durability, cost of operation and return on investment. Because we’re 100 percent focused on self-propelled sprayers, across the board, Apache has the competition beat.”

Ag Leader Debuts DisplayCast for InCommand

Kelly MarshallAg Leader, Agribusiness, Data Collection, Displays

Ag Leader DisplayBe among the first to see Ag Leader‘s new DisplayCast feature this week at the Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa.  This new upgrade to the InCommand display and AgFiniti cloud-based platform offers the latest in data connectivity and real-time display-to-display communication.

Display information, including maps and guidance lines, synced across field activities increases productivity and immediate decision-making. Sharing data between multiple displays running in the same field, running in different fields, or running across the operation is now seamless.

InCommand displays will share coverage maps for swath control, guidance lines, field summary information, yield and planting maps and more. No matter the season, there is always a short window of time to optimize productivity. Having guidance lines, coverage maps and other valuable decision-making data helps growers run at full speed.

“We understand the urgency when field work needs to be done, so having valuable information available in real-time will seriously increase timeliness and promote collaboration among machines,” said Joe Holoubek, Product Manager, Ag Leader Technology. “Guidance lines from the planting tractor to the sprayer and coverage maps from one combine to another, are only a few examples of how the immediate exchange of data will help growers maximize productivity,” Holoubek added.

This means growers with multiple machines can see exactly what’s happening in each piece of equipment, and sharing from the planter to the combine makes the most of data collection without the hassle of flash drives and desktop software.

“Complete connectivity between the precision tools that make growers more efficient and profitable is our vision, and AgFiniti and InCommand displays are the foundation. The duo has unlimited possibilities, and DisplayCast is just the beginning,” said Holoubek.

The DisplayCast will be available to order in December 2016.

It’s Farm Progress Show Time!

Cindy ZimmermanFarm Progress Show

Farm Progress Show Media DayThe 2016 Farm Progress Show gets underway this week in Boone, Iowa and the AgWired team is already on the ground or getting there.

Last week some of the agricultural media who will be attending the show took part in a tour of the site and heard from FPS staff about what’s happening this year.

A staple of the Farm Progress Show has always been the field demonstrations. This year is no exception with a full line up of demonstrations scheduled. The combines fire up at 11 a.m each show day. Additionally, you will see auger carts collecting grain on the go, and more. Tillage tools and other special machines will operate each day from 2 to 3 p.m. This gives visitors an opportunity to view all of the competitors in each segment running side by side.

There will also be a tillage class for tools that want to run faster to show their performance features. Most of the new tillage tools, with nearly a dozen on the market, are recommended to run at 7 to 9 miles per hour. When they are run at slower speeds, you don’t always get a true picture of how these machines work. The advent of vertical tillage has made it necessary to change the rules, and boost the longstanding speed limit on the demo field. Vertical-tillage tools can operate at their optimum speed once more traditional tillage tools have made their passes.

Another favorite attraction for Farm Progress Show visitors are the Ride ‘n Drives. This year, visitors can test drive a new truck, ATV and tractor tires. Yamaha, Ram Trucks, Michelin, Chevrolet, and Titan Tire are all participating in the Ride ‘n Drives. All Ride ‘n Drive participants will be located east of exhibit field by Tram Loading.

Sponsors of our coverage on Precision.AgWired this year include John Deere, GROWMARK and BASF. We’ll be on-site first thing Tuesday morning and hoping for better weather than last time FPS was in Iowa!

Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by John DeereCoverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by GrowmarkCoverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Bayer CropScience

EFC Systems and Adapt-N Announce Integration

Kelly MarshallAgribusiness, Nitrogen, Nutrient Management

efc-systems-tmEFC Systems, Inc. and Agronomic Tehcnology Corp have announced the integration of their products, Field Alytics and Adapt-N respectively.  This integration means FieldAlytics users may use data already on file to create variable rate nitrogen recommendations- recommendations that are powerful, unbiased and scientifically validated.  FieldAlytics customers gain easy access to Adapt-N’s nitrogen diagnostics, alerts, and recommendations.

“We achieved our goal to make the data flow easily between systems, letting FieldAlytics users add additional knowledge and insight into their growers’ management decisions. We’re excited to offer Adapt-N’s service to our users without requiring them to work within separate tools,” says Devron VonGunden, EFC Systems’ Senior Product Manager for FieldAlytics. The first phase of the integration makes Adapt-N’s in-season recommendations available for corn fields in a wide geography. Over the coming months, a number of additional features will be added, including the optional automatic syncing of soil test, yield and other management data layers between the systems.

Adapt-N“This capability provides seamless access to market leading decision tools,” notes Ernie Chappell, EFC Systems’ President and CEO. “We see Adapt-N as a leader in Nitrogen management.” EFC Systems’ customers have flexibility to utilize and market Adapt-N to their grower customers in a flexible fashion, and can optionally choose which fields should benefit from the joint offering.

“At Agronomic Technology Corp, we strive to go where the data is, and empower users to gain additional value from the tools they’ve already selected,” says Agronomic Technology Corp’s CEO, Steve Sibulkin. “We’re excited to partner with EFC Systems to promote sustainable profitability across its user base,” he says, referencing Adapt-N’s demonstrated ability to improve grower profit while reducing nitrogen losses to the environment. “Adapt-N is offered independently, with a solid scientific foundation, and has been recognized by the industry as setting the standard in nitrogen modeling,” Sibulkin adds, citing the tool’s recent NutrientStar validation, and that it is also a top tier solution in Walmart’s Supplier Sustainability Toolkit.

NCGA President Welcomes Ethanol Back to Virginia

Kelly MarshallAg Group, Ethanol, NCGA

NCGA Green PlainsGreat Plains Inc. opened their Hopewell, Virginia ethanol plant this week.  National Corn Growers Association President, Chip Bowling, was on hand to congratulate the company on its accomplishment and express his hope for further expansion of ethanol on the East Coast.

“We are excited to see ethanol production back up and running in Virginia,” said Bowling. “The Hopewell plant will give Mid-Atlantic farmers another market for their crop. It’s good for the ag economy, and for consumers, who will now have access to renewable fuels grown and produced even closer to home. This is win-win.”

The Hopewell ethanol facility, which opened in April 2014, was the first ethanol operation on the East Coast, producing ethanol from corn, barley, and other small grains. The facility stopped production in August 2015.

Green Plains Inc., an Omaha, Nebraska-based ethanol company, bought the facility last fall. The total production capacity of Green Plains’ 14 ethanol plants is approximately 1.2 billion gallons of ethanol per year.

The return of ethanol production to the East is coming at a great time, points out Bowling.  “Corn farmers across the country are expecting another bumper crop in 2016, at a time where prices have already fallen below production costs. The National Corn Growers Association is working together with industry and government to build demand for corn, and bring farmers back to profitability,” he said. “We need to keep investing in our ethanol infrastructure, especially here on the East Coast, to meet demand from consumers where they live and work.”

Soybean Growers from 11 States to Lead ASA’s WISHH

Jamie JohansenAg Group, ASA, Exports, Soybeans

ProgramCommitteeFullJuly2016_Cropped_1American Soybean Association (ASA) President Richard Wilkins confirmed 15 soybean growers from 11 states to serve as ASA’s World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) program committee in 2016-17.

Officers are: Chairman Daryl Cates (IL), Vice Chair Levi Huffman (IN); Treasurer Stan Born (IL); and Secretary E.L. Reed (MO).

New WISHH Committee members include: Tim Bardole (IA); Roberta Simpson-Dolbeare (IL); Kurt Maurath (KS); and Dawn Scheier (SD). Returning members include the officer team as well as: Ryan Cahoon (N.C.); George Goblish (MN.); Jeff Lynn (IL); Steve Reinhard (OH); Jim Wilson (MI) and Art Wosick (ND). Keith Kemp (OH) serves as an ex-officio member representing the United Soybean Board (USB), along with U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) Marketing Director Marypat Corbett.

“We commend these soybean growers who lead WISHH’s important work that builds long-term international markets for U.S. soy by leveraging U.S. farmer investments with U.S. Department of Agriculture and other programs,” Wilkins said. “WISHH has a winning strategy that benefits both U.S. soybean growers and WISHH’s developing country partners, who make their nations more food secure by adding U.S. soy protein to their livestock feed rations and diverse human foods.”

WISHH was formed in the early 2000s as a way to create trade with developing countries, where a growing middle class would have the buying power to purchase protein foods and feeds. WISHH is focused on creating markets for soy where the need exists but the business does not. WISHH and the USSEC pave complementary trade routes that grow U.S. soy markets.